Musashi had asked a question that was genuinely hard for Naoki to answer.
Judging by the situation, what Musashi wanted to know was likely Naoki's stance and feelings toward Tomoe.
After a moment's thought, Naoki lowered his voice and replied, "I don't have a thing for widows—it's just that the person I like happens to be one."
"!"
As if struck by lightning, Musashi's body trembled violently. Her eyes widened slightly, staring at Naoki in utter disbelief, as if she'd just witnessed something indescribable.
Then, she gave Naoki's shoulder a firm pat.
"Good luck…"
"Good luck with what?"
Naoki feigned ignorance and returned his voice to normal volume. "Back to the main topic. Since Musashi's awake and lunch is done, it's time to talk about serious matters."
"About the Heroic Spirit Swordsmen."
Hearing this, Musashi snapped out of her shock. "Any new information gathered?"
"More or less." Naoki turned to Tomoe. "Gozen, since you were once a Heroic Spirit Swordsman, you must know some secrets. Any leads on the Heroic Spirit Swordsmen themselves or the mastermind behind your summoning?"
"Of course. Even without Naoki-sama's reminder, Gozen intended to share everything I know with both of you."
Tomoe gathered her thoughts. "There are seven Heroic Spirit Swordsmen in total. Since Gozen and Inshun-dono were defeated last night, there should be five left. Their taboo names are—Paraíso, Saṃghāta Hell, Kālasūtra Hell, Limbo, and Empireo."
The five remaining Heroic Spirit Swordsmen weren't much different from what Naoki knew. Though one or two were fuzzy in his memory, since this came from Tomoe, it should be reliable.
"As for their True Names… I'm sorry, Gozen was mad at the time and doesn't know. We addressed each other by our taboo names."
"I know this part." Naoki interjected. "Based on the order Gozen mentioned, the True Names of the five Heroic Spirit Swordsmen should be Mochizuki Chiyome, Minamoto no Raikō, Shuten Dōji, Ashiya Dōman, and Yagyū Munenori."
"Wait—"
Naoki's explanation stunned Musashi and Tomoe. Not because he knew their True Names—both were used to Naoki seemingly knowing everything from time to time.
What shocked them were the True Names of the five Heroic Spirit Swordsmen.
Except for the first, the other four were legendary figures in Japanese history!
"Naoki, you… you're sure you're not mistaken?" Musashi's face paled slightly. "The commander of the Minamoto clan, the Oni King of Mount Ōe, an Onmyōji as renowned as Abe no Seimei in the Heian era, and the grandmaster of Shinkage-ryū… What kind of monsters are these Heroic Spirit Swordsmen!?"
By comparison, Tomoe and Inshun seemed ordinary.
And Mochizuki Chiyome, on par with them as a Heroic Spirit Swordsman, was…
"Speaking of which, Mochizuki Chiyome was a ninja serving the Takeda family of Kai in the late Sengoku period. Due to family reasons, she was actually a Jinchūriki (vessel of power) for one of the Daimyōjin (Great Deities)… or rather, a vessel for part of its power."
"One of the Daimyōjin?"
"Ibuki Daimyōjin from Mount Ibuki—or in other words, Orochi, the most famous Serpent God in Japanese mythology."
"!!"
Musashi and Tomoe, shocked, gasped in unison.
Mochizuki Chiyome was a Heroic Spirit Swordsman linked to Orochi!?
"Isn't this lineup of enemies a bit too extravagant?" Musashi couldn't help but complain. "Naoki, let me confirm one more time—our goal is to fight the Heroic Spirit Swordsmen. That means we have to… take down all these ridiculously strong enemies you just listed?"
"Maybe."
Naoki said, "It depends on the situation—honestly, for us, the Heroic Spirit Swordsmen aren't enemies we always have to fight."
Tomoe: "Eh?"
Musashi: "Huh?"
"Hard to understand? Think about it, and you'll get it." Naoki pointed to himself.
"Let's start with my situation. Personally, I have no grudges or conflicts with the Heroic Spirit Swordsmen. I have no reason to fight them. As long as they don't attack me, I'm too lazy to deal with them. Plus, I'm someone who ended up in this world by mistake. I don't know when I'll leave, and what happens here doesn't really concern me."
That was Naoki's case.
"Then Musashi. Like me, you're also someone who ended up in this world by mistake. You don't know when you'll leave for another world either. You have no personal vendetta against the Heroic Spirit Swordsmen. In theory, there's no need to actively oppose them."
That was Musashi's case.
Among the three, only Tomoe might want revenge against the Heroic Spirit Swordsmen due to her past.
And the most critical point—
"Moreover, this world is a Lostbelt. A Lostbelt is a pruned world, stripped of its potential for growth, a world abandoned from the start, one that doesn't matter if it's destroyed. Even if we defeat all the Heroic Spirit Swordsmen, this world will still fall into stagnation equivalent to death for various reasons."
"If that's the case, why fight the Heroic Spirit Swordsmen?" Naoki's voice sounded a bit cruel. "Musashi, if you think the enemy is unbeatable, running away is also an option. Even if all of Japan is slaughtered by the Heroic Spirit Swordsmen, I'll ensure your safety until we leave. That way—"
*SLAP!*
Musashi suddenly slapped Naoki! Her eyes, filled with fury, glared at him sharply!
"Are those… your true feelings, Naoki?"
"Just giving you another option." Naoki grabbed Musashi's arm aimed at his face. "You have no blood ties to the people here. No need to risk your life for those destined to perish in this world—that's all I'm saying."
"Even though I'm in that situation myself, I'll still fight the Heroic Spirit Swordsmen."
"Huh?"
Musashi was confused by what Naoki was trying to say. "What are you getting at, Naoki? One moment you say we don't need to fight, the next you say you will."
"The reasons to fight and the reasons to run—I'm just analyzing both for you and want you to choose. Because if you get scared halfway through, I'm the one who'll be in trouble."
Naoki held up two fingers.
"Make your choice, Musashi."
"Will you fight for the justice in your heart, to protect people you don't know, to stop the Heroic Spirit Swordsmen's slaughter, facing enemies you feel you can't defeat?"
"Or will you prioritize your own safety, ignore these strangers, and wait for the time to leave this world?"
"Pick one, as you wish."
Only then did Musashi understand.
Naoki was giving her a reason.
Emotionally, she couldn't bear to see the Heroic Spirit Swordsmen continue their slaughter and wanted to protect those people. But these enemies were undoubtedly formidable—none she could face confidently. If she opposed them, she'd likely die.
A future where she'd definitely live, or one where she'd likely die.
Whatever she chose, Naoki had given her a reason, and he'd support her choice—whether protecting her or fighting alongside her.
"Something like this… you still need to ask?"
Musashi gripped the first finger Naoki extended. "If I run away here, I'll live with guilt for the rest of my life!"
"Good."
Dropping his cold expression, Naoki withdrew his hand. "That's settled. Since you've chosen this, don't ever think again that you might not win. Believe in your strength and the power I've given you."
"Got it."